My interview experience began with a phone call with the recruiter, which had initially been postponed. The questions asked were fairly standard and centered around my professional background. The second interview was conducted with the Head of PMO and was also initially scheduled as a phone interview. However, there was a technical hiccup in connecting to my phone number, which resulted in the interview shifting to a video interview without video, which was a bit unconventional. During this interview, the focus shifted towards more specific questions related to the Program Manager role, and we delved into the topic of education and certification. At this point, it became apparent that I did not possess a PMP certification. The interviewer abruptly informed me that this was a mandatory requirement and there was no further discussion to be had. This was surprising, as the job description had previously mentioned PMP certification as a preferred qualification, rather than a strict requirement. The abrupt shift in attitude was somewhat off-putting, and I politely expressed my gratitude for their time before concluding the conversation.